Cu-based thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric technology has the ability to realize direct conversion between heat and electricity. Compared to the traditional refrigeration and energy generation technologies, thermoelectric technology has the advantages of having no moving parts, quiet, and long term stability. Thus, thermoelectric technology offers a great potential for the use in many cooling and power generating applications to help combat the global energy dilemma. Research on copper (Cu)-based materials has a long history in the thermoelectric field and it has become a topic which is very popular recently. In this review, the main progresses and achievements in Cu-based thermoelectric materials are summarized. Commencing with the history of Cu-based thermoelectric materials, we will introduce several typical kinds of high performance Cu-based thermoelectric materials, termed as diamond-like compounds, superionic conductors, tetrahedrites Cu12Sb4S13, and oxyselenide BiCuSeO. Then, new thermoelectric phenomenon and mechanisms discovered in these Cu-based materials and the strategies for the optimization of thermoelectric performance are also discussed. Finally, the challenges for commercial applications by using these Cu-based thermoelectric materials are discussed. We believed that the progresses in Cu-based materials will promote the use of thermoelectric technology to play a positive role in future energy solutions.